Iran and South Africa have held high-level military talks in Tehran, pledging closer cooperation in defence and strategic affairs while voicing shared opposition to what they describe as “global arrogance” and “colonial approaches.” Iranian army chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami and visiting South African defence chief Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya said the partnership aims to support “oppressed nations” and advance a just international order.
The meeting came as Pretoria faces growing diplomatic friction with Washington. South Africa has rejected a recent US human rights report as “deeply flawed” and “one-sided,” accusing it of relying on discredited sources. The report alleged a deterioration in human rights conditions, including land policy controversies, while the US has imposed higher tariffs on South African exports and hinted at restricting development financing.
Analysts say the twin tracks of closer Iran–South Africa coordination and worsening US–South Africa relations could shift Pretoria’s global positioning. South Africa has also drawn international attention through its ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move praised by Tehran but criticised by Washington.